Who are we? What is our purpose? What is truth? Thoughtful comments appreciated.

Friday, December 08, 2006

How Can I Understand The Bible

Not too long ago I was on a road trip with a friend and work colleague when the conversation turned to matters of faith and religion. It was a very enjoyable discussion between two people with very different perspectives on life, but our core values are very similar. One of the key differences was our view of the Holy Bible. My friend is the son of a preacher, yet he said he found the bible "convoluted" and hard to understand. He questioned why God would reveal himself in such a hard to understand way. I explained that I thought the Bible was God's inspired, inerrant message telling us how to live our lives in relationship to him. After thinking about this more, here is what I've concluded.

We live in a rich society where there is a Bible in every hotel room drawer, and most people with a Christian heritage have at least one and probably many bibles in their home, usually collecting dust. Bibles are freely available for purchase in stores everywhere. Anyone reading this on the web also has access to incredible online resources and study tools for understanding the Bible. Contrast this with the foreign mission field where Christianity is growing fastest (Asia and Africa). There are millions of Believers in these countries willing to give their lives for their faith, but they don't even own a Bible or have easy access to one.

Jesus said, "Seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." However, Jesus also said, "When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required." We are a society rich in resources for understanding the Bible. We have more access and tools for unlocking God's Word than any society in history, so I believe we have a greater obligation than any society in history to utilize these resources. Conversely, I have heard many stories from the foreign mission field about God revealing himself in mighty ways to sincere seekers in countries where Christianity is persecuted and restricted or where Bibles are not freely available. If you seek, you will find, but we should not expect God to write his message in the clouds when he has clearly revealed it on the printed page.

The bottom line is that God has clearly revealed himself in the Bible. Those who study diligently with an open heart will discover that the Bible is not convoluted. The basic message and theme is consistent and clear to the sincere seeker of Truth. I hope my friend and anyone else reading this will take the time to make an eternal investment in studying the Bible. God will reward you if you do.

I'm definitely not an expert on the Bible. I'm just a fellow truth seeker on the journey. However, I welcome questions and would be thrilled to discuss the importance of the Bible with anyone who is honestly trying to Discover the Truth. Leave a comment below if you'd like to learn more.